Editor’s blog: One simple way you can help foodbanks without spending any extra on your weekly shop. But be quick, this offer only runs today

You can’t have failed to have noticed today’s big news: nearly 1,000,000 people have been helped by foodbanks in the past year. To break that down to a more manageable number around 1 in every 67 people have needed emergency food help in the past 12 months.

That’s a huge number.

Foodbanks work because they rely on food donated by you and me. Some supermarkets have regular collection points, most churches also collect donations.

Every foodbank has needs lists – often there’s a glut of pasta or chopped tomatoes, but a shortage of toothpaste or instant mash potato.

We’re starting to collate those in a special section of our website. Every week, before you go shopping you can check on the list and add a little something that will go a long way.

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But before that happens, if you’re doing your weekly shop at Sainsbury’s today, there’s a brilliant way you can help stock up the foodbanks without spending a penny extra.

If you spend £50 or more, you’re entitled to pick up a free packet of its own brand nappies.

It might seem weird to buy them, but food banks do hand out nappies to Mums in need. If everyone who shopped at Sainsbury’s took part in this offer, what a lot of nappies can be collected!

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The range is the Little Ones Dry Fit nappies and pack sizes vary. The offer excludes Sainsbury’s Centrals and Locals.